Mac anti-virus software

I received my first question regarding the Mac. Here it is:

Hello,

What a great idea for a blog! I have a question for you.
I recently bought a mac. I have heard that they generally don’t get viruses. Does this mean that my computer will be safe without installing any virus protection software? If I wanted to be extra safe, would a product like Norton Antivirus or McAfee work on a mac?

Thank you!

Well first, congratulations on your recent purchase. You must be really happy! What you are saying is true, particularly if you use the PC as the measure against which to compare. That being said, you might still want an antivirus. You also should consider other possible attacks, particularly when it comes to protecting sensitive data.

No matter which operating system you use, there will always be people out there trying to make a fast buck by exploiting known bugs, system vulnerabilities, or lax users. I advise spending your money not on Mac antivirus software but on a good phishing-protection application; at the very least, consider using a browser that offers built-in phishing protection. Your Mac’s file system is probably safe from malicious hackers, but your identity may not be.